PH always low

[SaltyCrew4u]

I like the digital Milwaukee ph meter over any colour comparison ph test. I found them too hard to read. The Milwaukee meters are reasonably priced, easy to use and most combine a digital thermometer as well. They also provide me with consistent results and seems to not drift too often. I recalibrate every month or two. I’m still struggling to get above 8.1 at peak photoperiod with a CO2 scrubber but I am not sweating it.

I'll look into it. I wish PH wasn't on my list of many things to closely monitor now lol. It's something new every week. By the time my tank matures to my liking I'll end up having to PCS. Thank you for the recommendation!

 

[AstroMelly]

This is the one I have - I found it much cheaper from an agriculture supplies store - the calibration sachets were much cheaper than from aquarium supply stores so I bought a good amount of these as well.

https://groaqua.store/products/milwaukee-ph55-ph-pocket-tester

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

This is the one I have - I found it much cheaper from an agriculture supplies store - the calibration sachets were much cheaper than from aquarium supply stores so I bought a good amount of these as well.

https://groaqua.store/products/milwaukee-ph55-ph-pocket-tester

That's much cheaper than the one I was looking at. Thank you!

 

[morrisDR]

Hey my pH was always around 7.8 to 8 now it's 8.4-8.7

There are alot of things I did to do this

1. Kalkwasser in my ato, I do not use kalkstirrer or anything I just put it in my water refill system. I put max dosage in it.
2. Changed two part to reef elements ph plus this stuff contains something that really helped my pH
3 .CO2 scrubber for some reason if the CO2 scrubber is not working all the other ph benefits don't work either so the pH will go back to 7.8-8
4. Reversed light schedule for my sump. I have a reef light in my sump for some frags these lights go on when the main lights go of keeping my oh more stable.

 

[morrisDR]

Also like to add that I use ph meters and I also test with salifert. Although the salifert ph test kit isn't really effective. The pH for 8.1-8.3 = green and fot above it will be blue so mine will always show blue results. That's why I think that test kit is also fine to use



Pls don't make the same mistake I did. It cost me alot of corals. When having a higher ph. Phosphate should be at least 0,7-0,1 or higher and nitrate 10+

Other wise dinos will come to destroy everything very quickly. Because of the high pH the color of you acros and other corals will still be very nice. It gave me better polyp extension.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Also like to add that I use ph meters and I also test with salifert. Although the salifert ph test kit isn't really effective. The pH for 8.1-8.3 = green and fot above it will be blue so mine will always show blue results. That's why I think that test kit is also fine to use



Pls don't make the same mistake I did. It cost me alot of corals. When having a higher ph. Phosphate should be at least 0,7-0,1 or higher and nitrate 10+

Other wise dinos will come to destroy everything very quickly. Because of the high pH the color of you acros and other corals will still be very nice. It gave me better polyp extension.

Thank you for that info! A few months back my tank zeroed out and I believe I had dinos a few months back. Thats when I invested in my UV sterilizer and started testing basically everyday. I aired my house out for a couple hours last night and I adjusted my pumps so I have a lot of agitation on the surface. If that doesn't work I'm going to try what Randy recommended and most likely buy a PH meter.